My name is Commarrah Bashar, I use they them pronouns, I’m black
and I identify as nonbinary trans. I’m an actrix with 22+ years of
performance experience, writer, and emerging artist. Two weeks ago,
I was minding my own business, working on a solo piece about a black
trans nonbinary person running for Mayor of Minneapolis. I’m pretty
much what you’d expect but should never accept for a trans working
artist: Underpaid, in a lot of debt, underserved, struggling, yet
still finding pathways to creatively thrive in ways that only
someone who understands adaptation with the spirit and body as the
starting ground can.

In the face of this emergency, a lot has changed. I’m working
with Twin Cities Mutual Aid, a collaboration of folks mostly in
Minneapolis fostering support and connection for mutual aid
responses to COVID-19. We were inspired by Ijeoma Oluo's efforts to support her
community of fellow artists in Seattle and knew we could make something like that happen for our
communities in the Twin Cities. However, from the initial call, I’ve
been clear: Since charity is over and solidarity is now, then trans
black and indigenous two spirit artists SPECIFICALLY are who I give
a damn about. So that's who we’re funding.

Especially when it comes to black trans women/femmes/and
indigenous two spirit people, artists are equally the most impacted
by this and the most capable of visioning a holistic and effective
response to it. You need only to look at the two black trans legends
on Minneapolis City Council and the work of Little Earth of United
Tribes on their resilience hub pilot to know that. This is neither about saving us nor our
indigenous two spirit siblings. This about giving credit where
credit has been long overdue.

Here are our initial goals:

$50,000 dollars to be dispensed as available.

100% of the funds will be given directly to black trans
women/femmes/nonbinary/men and indigenous two spirit artists
living and working in the Twin Cities area.

We plan to uplift 25 artists--some of whom are identified by
community members, but the majority of whom can apply--will each
receive two thousand dollars each to do with as they need.

We are on stolen land worked by stolen hands. Now that land is
taking it out on us in a very real way. All the fear and anxiety you
have as you witness the system that’s been failing us fail you, go
ahead and channel that into the will of your wallet and smash that
donate button. This mutual aid effort is kicking off intentionally
today on the International Transgender Day of Visibility, so in the
words of my people “You better recognize.”

Freeze living costs: Ensure housing for all during this crisis
and prevent economic devastation for all Minnesotans. In order to
ensure our safety to move through this crisis, everyone in our
community needs reliable shelter to prevent the spread and care
for themselves.

Expand Health Care Access: We must ensure access to treatment
and protections for workers in order to keep ourselves healthy and
slow the devastating impacts of this pandemic.

Humanize and decarcerate Minnesota’s Incarcerated: The
condition of Minnesota’s prison and jails, inside and outside of
crisis, is a public health issue and are inhumane institutions. We
must take immediate action by reducing the amount of people being
placed at risk within our criminal justice system.

A note on transparency: This fund will be hosted by The Twin Cities Logistics
Collective for Twin Cities Mutual Aid. While I’m still underpaid, in
a lot of debt, underserved, and struggling, I’m also the lead
organizer on this and as such, I will not be receiving any of the
funds. This is a sincere love letter to my siblings and I’m proud to
make it happen. I know y’all got me.

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